Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, control method of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and control program of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe that transmits/receives ultrasonic waves; a camera that captures a subject; an ultrasonic image generator that generates an ultrasonic image of the subject based on a reception signal acquired from the ultrasonic probe; a first hardware processor that generates a display image including a camera image acquired from the camera and an ultrasonic image acquired from the ultrasonic image generator; and a second hardware processor that decides a display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image in accordance with an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

The entire disclosure of Japanese patent Application No. 2020-103852, filed on Jun. 16, 2020, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Technological Field

The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a control method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a control program of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates a tomographic image in a subject by transmitting ultrasonic waves to the inside of the subject and receiving and analyzing the ultrasonic echo is known. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus can acquire a two-dimensional or three-dimensional ultrasonic image in real time by scanning ultrasonic waves. Then, by temporally continuously generating ultrasonic images using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is possible to observe a moving image of the living body part of the subject.

In recent years, in order to make it possible to recognize the position of an ultrasonic probe and the situation of the operation of a subject from a display image displayed on a monitor, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this type in which a camera captures both the ultrasonic probe and the subject, and displays, on the monitor, a display image in which the camera image is attached to the ultrasonic image has been conceived.

For example, JP 2009-207800 A discloses a technique in which a camera is connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a camera image under examination is displayed or stored simultaneously with an ultrasonic image. In addition, JP 2009-207800 A discloses a technique in which an examination region is judged or camera zooming on an examination target is performed by utilizing content analysis of the camera image and probe position information at that time.

In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this type, a camera image displayed together with an ultrasonic image is assumed to have various uses such as (1) usage for the examiner to confirm both the position of the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic image in a monitor during the ultrasonic examination, (2) usage for the examiner to explain the coordination between the movement of the body and the movement inside the living body while showing the monitor to the patient, (3) usage as a body mark (mark indicating an examination target region of the subject) when the display image is used as a record of the ultrasonic examination, and (4) usage for the purpose of reproducing how to apply the ultrasonic probe at the time of reexamination.

In this regard, it is preferable that the display style (e.g., normal image display or mirror image display) of the camera image to be displayed together with the ultrasonic image is set differently depending on the usage scene of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of providing image display with higher convenience for a user, a control method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and a control program of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises: an ultrasonic probe that transmits/receives ultrasonic waves; a camera that captures a subject; an ultrasonic image generator that generates an ultrasonic image of the subject based on a reception signal acquired from the ultrasonic probe; a first hardware processor that generates a display image including a camera image acquired from the camera and an ultrasonic image acquired from the ultrasonic image generator; and a second hardware processor that decides a display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image in accordance with an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features provided by one or more embodiments of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of an appearance of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a situation of an ultrasonic examination using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a display image generated by a display image generator (camera image: mirror image display);

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a display image generated by the display image generator (camera image: normal image display);

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of an operation flow of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a view explaining a probe mark setting function;

FIG. 8 is a view explaining an annotation setting function;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Variation 2; and

FIG. 10 is a view showing a configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Variation 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. In the present description and the drawings, components having a substantially identical function are given an identical reference numeral, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

[Overall Configuration of Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus]

The configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of an appearance of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A. FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the situation of an ultrasonic examination using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A. In FIG. 3, P1 is an examiner (i.e., user), and P2 is a patient (i.e., subject).

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A includes an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1, an ultrasonic probe 2, and a camera 3. The ultrasonic probe 2 and the camera 3 are connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1 via cables C1 and C2, respectively.

The ultrasonic probe 2 transmits an ultrasonic beam (here, about 1 to 30 MHz) to the inside of the subject, and functions as an acoustic sensor that receives an ultrasonic echo reflected in the subject among the transmitted ultrasonic beams and converts the ultrasonic echo into an electric signal.

The ultrasonic probe 2 includes, for example, a vibrator train (e.g., piezoelectric vibrator train) in an array, and a channel switcher (e.g., multiplexer) for controlling switching on/off of the drive state of each vibrator of the vibrator train individually or in block units. Each vibrator of the ultrasonic probe 2 converts a voltage pulse generated in the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1 (transmitter/receiver 11) into an ultrasonic beam, transmits the ultrasonic beam to the subject, receives the ultrasonic echo reflected in the subject, converts the ultrasonic echo into an electric signal (hereinafter referred to as “reception signal”), and outputs the electric signal to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1 (transmitter/receiver 11). Then, the vibrators to be driven by the ultrasonic probe 2 are sequentially switched along the scanning direction, thereby executing ultrasonic scanning in the subject.

The camera 3 is a general visible camera such as an optical camera, and generates image data related to a camera image (hereinafter abbreviated as “camera image”) by performing AD conversion of an image signal generated by its own imaging device. Then, the camera 3 continuously generates camera images and outputs camera images arranged in time series to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1.

The camera 3 is arranged at an appropriate position around the subject so that the subject and the ultrasonic probe 2 can be captured. The arrangement position of the camera 3 is preferably a position where the pressing state (e.g., the position and attitude of the ultrasonic probe 2) of the ultrasonic probe 2 to the subject can be grasped from the camera image.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1 includes the transmitter/receiver 11, an ultrasonic image generator 12, a camera image acquisitor 13, a display image generator 14, an image output unit 15, an operation input unit 16, a storage 17, and a controller 18.

The transmitter/receiver 11 is a drive circuit that causes each vibrator of the ultrasonic probe 2 to transmit/receive ultrasonic waves. The transmitter/receiver 11 transmits a voltage pulse that is a drive signal to each vibrator of the ultrasonic probe 2, and receives and processes an electric signal related to the ultrasonic echo generated by each vibrator of the ultrasonic probe 2.

The ultrasonic image generator 12 performs predetermined signal processing (logarithmic compression, detection, and the like) on the reception signal acquired from the transmitter/receiver 11 to generate image data related to the ultrasonic image (hereinafter abbreviated as “ultrasonic image”).

For example, when the ultrasonic probe 2 transmits a pulsed ultrasonic beam toward the depth direction, the ultrasonic image generator 12 sequentially accumulates, in the line memory, the signal intensity of ultrasonic echoes detected subsequently. Then, in response to the scanning of the inside of the subject by the ultrasonic beam from the ultrasonic probe 2, the ultrasonic image generator 12 sequentially accumulates, in each separate line memory, the signal intensity of ultrasonic echoes at each scanning position, and generates two-dimensional data in a frame unit. The ultrasonic image generator 12 generates an ultrasonic image by converting the signal intensity of the ultrasonic echo detected at each position inside the subject into a luminance value.

The ultrasonic image generator 12 temporally continuously generates an ultrasonic image at a frame rate corresponding to the scanning speed of the ultrasonic probe 2.

The camera image acquisitor 13 sequentially acquires camera images from the camera 3. The camera image acquisitor 13 sequentially acquires camera images from the camera 3 at intervals of a frame rate at which the camera 3 generates a camera image, for example.

The display image generator 14 acquires an ultrasonic image from the ultrasonic image generator 12, acquires a camera image from the camera image acquisitor 13, and generates a display image in which the ultrasonic image and the camera image are arranged. Then, the display image generator 14 transmits the data of the generated display image to the image output unit 15.

When the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is a live mode, the display image generator 14 sequentially generates display images in which the real-time ultrasonic image generated by the ultrasonic image generator 12 and the real-time camera image acquired by the camera image acquisitor 13 are arranged, and sequentially updates the display image to be displayed on the image output unit 15.

In this case, the display image generator 14 may specify a temporal correspondence relationship between the timing at which the ultrasonic image is generated and the timing at which the camera image is generated based on the time of the time stamp given to the ultrasonic image and the time of the time stamp given to the camera image, and may generate a display image including the ultrasonic image and the camera image generated at the same or close timing. In this case, the ultrasonic image may be given a time stamp when generated by the ultrasonic image generator 12, and the camera image may be given a time stamp when acquired by the camera image acquisitor 13.

When the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is a still image reproduction mode or a moving image reproduction mode, the display image generator 14 reads still image data D1 or moving image data D2 stored in the storage 17 and generates a display image.

When receiving a still image saving command from the controller 18, the display image generator 14 stores, as the still image data D1 in the storage 17, the data of the display image of one frame held in its frame buffer at the timing of receiving the still image saving command. When receiving a moving image saving command from the controller 18, the display image generator 14 stores, as the moving image data D2 in the storage 17, the data of the display images sequentially generated by itself.

The display image generator 14 is implemented by, for example, a digital arithmetic circuit including a digital signal processor (DSP). However, some or all of the functions of the display image generator 14 may be implemented by the central processing unit (CPU) performing arithmetic processing in accordance with a program, or may be implemented by a dedicated hardware circuit (e.g., ASIC and FPGA).

The image output unit 15 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, a CRT monitor, or the like, and displays a display image generated in the display image generator 14.

The operation input unit 16 is a user interface for a user to perform an input operation, and includes, for example, a push button switch, a keyboard, or a mouse. The operation input unit 16 converts the input operation performed by the user into an operation signal and transmits it to the controller 18.

The user can command, via the operation input unit 16, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A for the operation mode to be executed.

The storage 17 is, for example, an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a flash memory. The storage 17 stores, for example, image format data (not illustrated) for generating a display image, image data of the display image generated in the display image generator 14, and the like. The storage 17 according to the present embodiment stores the moving image data (representing image data of a display image in a moving image format. The same applies hereinafter) D2 and the still image data ((representing image data of a display image in a still image format. The same applies hereinafter) D1.

The controller 18 controls the display image generator 14 so that the display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image can be switched in accordance with the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A (details will be described later). The controller 18 also has a function of acquiring an operation signal from the operation input unit 16 and comprehensively controlling the operation of each unit of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus Abased on the operation signal.

The controller 18 is a microcomputer that includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM).

[Display Style Control of Camera Image]

The display image generator 14 is formed to be capable of changing the display style of a camera image to be arranged in a display image Specifically, the display image generator 14 changes the display style of a camera image to be arranged in a display image based on a control command related to the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A to be received from the controller 18.

At this time, the display image generator 14 preferably adds, to the display image, an explanatory image (see image R3 in FIGS. 4 and 5) indicating the mode of the display style of the camera image currently arranged in the display image. This allows the user to recognize in an error-free manner the display style of the currently displayed camera image.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing an example of a display image generated by the display image generator 14. The display image of FIG. 4 and the display image of FIG. 5 are display images generated at the same timing. FIG. 4 indicates a state in which the camera image is displayed as a mirror image, and FIG. 5 indicates a state in which the camera image is displayed as a normal image. In FIGS. 4 and 5, Rall represents the entire display image, R1 represents an ultrasonic image, R2 represents a camera image, and R3 represents an explanatory image.

Here, the display style of the camera image to be switched by the display image generator 14 is typically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the display style related to mirror image display (i.e., horizontally inverted display) or normal image display (i.e., horizontally non-inverted display). Based on a control command from the controller 18, the display image generator 14 switches whether the camera image obtained by capturing is displayed as a normal image or the camera image obtained by capturing is displayed as a mirror image. Such control is performed because, depending on the usage scene of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A, the convenience for the user varies between the camera image displayed as a mirror image and the camera image displayed as a normal image.

The operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A serving as a reference for deciding the display style of the camera image includes, for example, a live mode, a freeze mode, a moving image reproduction mode, and a still image reproduction mode.

The live mode is an operation mode in which the ultrasonic probe 2 executes transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves and captures a tomographic image of the subject. In the live mode, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A updates in real time the ultrasonic image of the subject and the display image including the camera image.

The freeze mode is a mode in which transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic probe 2 is stopped by, as a trigger, a freeze command having been input by the user during the live mode. In the freeze mode, the display image generated last in the live mode is held in a frame buffer of the display image generator 14, and the display image generator 14 stops updating the display image.

The still image reproduction mode is a mode in which the display image generator 14 reads the still image data D1 of the display image generated during the past ultrasonic examination from the storage 17 and displays the still image data D1 in the image output unit 15. Recording of a still image of an ultrasonic image is executed, for example, based on a still image saving command having been input by the user during the freeze mode, and the image data of one display image generated in the display image generator 14 at this time is stored in the storage 17 as the still image data D1.

The moving image reproduction mode is a mode in which the display image generator 14 reads the moving image data D2 of the display image generated during the past ultrasonic examination from the storage 17, and the image output unit 15 reproduces the moving image. Recording of a moving image of an ultrasonic image is executed, for example, based on a moving image saving command having been input by the user during the live mode, and the image data of time-series display images generated in the display image generator 14 at this time is stored in the storage 17 as the moving image data D2.

Specifically, the display image generator 14 changes the display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image as follows.

When the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the live mode, the display image generator 14 displays, as a mirror image, a camera image to be arranged in the display image. When the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the freeze mode, the display image generator 14 displays, as a normal image, a camera image to be arranged in the display image. When the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the still image reproduction mode, the display image generator 14 displays, as a normal image, a camera image to be arranged in the display image. When the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the moving image reproduction mode, the display image generator 14 displays, as a mirror image, a camera image to be arranged in the display image.

When the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the live mode, in general, the user is in a situation of moving the ultrasonic probe 2 while visually recognizing the display image displayed on the image output unit 15. At this time, since the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1 is generally arranged on the opposite side or the lateral side of the subject as viewed from the user (see FIG. 3), if the camera image is not displayed as a mirror image, the moving direction of the ultrasonic probe 2 may appear to be opposite to the direction intended by the user when the camera image is viewed. In other words, by displaying the camera image as a mirror image at this time, the user obtains a feeling of moving the ultrasonic probe 2 while visually recognizing the mirror, and hence the user can intuitively move the ultrasonic probe 2 while visually recognizing the display image (i.e., camera image) displayed on the image output unit 15.

The moving image reproduction mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is generally used for the usage of reproducing an ultrasonic examination carried out in the past. In the moving image reproduction mode, similarly to the case where the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is operated in the live mode, the user is supposed to move the ultrasonic probe 2 while visually recognizing the display image (camera image) displayed on the image output unit 15 in a state where the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body 1 is arranged on the opposite side or the lateral side of the subject as viewed from the user. Therefore, even when the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is operated in the moving image reproduction mode, as in the case where the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is operated in the live mode, it is preferable that a camera image as an inverted mirror image is displayed on the image output unit 15.

On the other hand, when the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the freeze mode or the still image reproduction mode, in general, the user does not perform the movement operation of the ultrasonic probe 2, and is in a situation of objectively observing the pressing position of the ultrasonic probe 2 against the subject, the attitude of the ultrasonic probe 2, and the like by visually recognizing the display image displayed on the image output unit 15. At this time, if the camera image is displayed as a mirror image, the user visually recognizing the camera image displayed in the display image has a risk of recognizing, in a horizontally inverted manner, the position at which the ultrasonic probe 2 is pressed against the subject. From this point of view, when the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the freeze mode or the still image reproduction mode, the camera image displayed in the display image is preferably displayed as a normal image.

From this point of view, in accordance with the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A, the display image generator 14 switches the display style for arranging the camera image on the display image between the mirror image display and the normal image display.

The generation processing of the display image by the display image generator 14 is the same as the known method. The display image generator 14 generates a display image by embedding, in image format data of the display image, for example, an ultrasonic image acquired from the ultrasonic image generator 12 and embedding a camera image acquired from the camera image acquisitor 13. When embedding the camera image in the display image, the display image generator 14 switches the camera image between mirror image display and normal image display in accordance with the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A.

When there is a saving command of a still image, the display image generator 14 stores, in the storage 17 as the still image data D1, the display image in which the camera image and the ultrasonic image having been set to normal image display are embedded in the image format data of the display image. On the other hand, when there is a saving command of a moving image, the display image generator 14 stores, in the storage 17 as the moving image data D2, the display image in which the camera image and the ultrasonic image having been set to mirror image display are embedded in the image format data of the display image Thus, in the still image reproduction mode, the display image generator 14 outputs a display image in which the camera image is displayed as a normal image, and in the moving image reproduction mode, the display image generator 14 outputs a display image in which the camera image is displayed as a mirror image.

The processing of arranging the camera image in the display image by the display image generator 14 may be to embed the camera image in a predetermined position of the image format data of the display image, or may be to display, in a superimposing manner or side by side, the camera image in an appropriate position regardless of the image format data of the display image. The same applies to the processing of arranging the ultrasonic image in the display image by the display image generator 14.

(Operation of Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus)

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of the operation flow of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A. Each step shown in FIG. 6 is executed in accordance with a computer program, for example, by the controller 18 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A.

When executing an ultrasonic diagnostic program, the controller 18 first reads setting data (not illustrated) such as measurement conditions and display settings, and sets the setting data as variables in various processing (step S1).

Next, the controller 18 causes the display image generator 14 to generate an initial screen of the display image, and the image output unit 15 to display it (step S2).

Next, the controller 18 causes the camera 3 to start capturing, and causes the camera image acquisitor 13 to sequentially acquire camera images generated by the camera 3 (step S3).

Next, the controller 18 causes the ultrasonic probe 2 to start transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves, and causes the ultrasonic image generator 12 to start generating an ultrasonic image (step S4).

Next, the controller 18 causes the display image generator 14 to embed the ultrasonic image acquired from the ultrasonic image generator 12 in the image format data of the display image, and to start the generation processing of the display image in which the camera image acquired from the camera image acquisitor 13 is embedded (step S5). The controller 18 outputs a display command signal to the image output unit 15, and causes the image output unit 15 to display the display image generated by the display image generator 14. At this time, the display image generated in the display image generator 14 is a display image in the live mode in which the camera image is displayed as a mirror image.

Next, the controller 18 determines whether or not there has been an input operation to the operation input unit 16 (step S6), and waits for an input operation to the operation input unit 16 (step S6: NO). If an input operation to the operation input unit 16 has been made (step S6: YES), the controller 18 performs conditional branching based on the content of the operation signal, and executes processing corresponding to each of a freeze operation, a freeze release operation, a still image saving operation, a still image reproduction operation, a moving image saving start operation, a moving image saving end operation, and a moving image reproduction operation (steps S7 to S13).

In step S6, the controller 18 determines whether any of the operation buttons of the operation input unit 16 provided separately has been pressed, in order to perform each of the freeze operation, the freeze release operation, the still image saving operation, the still image reproduction operation, the moving image saving start operation, the moving image saving end operation, and the moving image reproduction operation. If any of the operation buttons is pressed, the operation is stored in a register as an identifiable operation signal, for example, and input to the controller 18 via the register.

Here, the processing corresponding to each of the freeze operation, the freeze release operation, the still image saving operation, the still image reproduction operation, the moving image saving start operation, the moving image saving end operation, and the moving image reproduction operation in a case where an input operation to the operation input unit 16 is made will be explained (steps S7 to S13).

If the freeze release operation is performed, the controller 18 resumes the imaging operation by the ultrasonic probe 2 set to the freeze mode by the freeze operation. At this time, the controller 18 causes the display image generator 14 to generate a display image in the live mode in which the camera image is displayed as a mirror image (step S7).

If the freeze operation is performed, the controller 18 causes the transmitter/receiver 11 to stop the imaging operation by the ultrasonic probe 2. At this time, the controller 18 causes the display image generator 14 to generate a display image in the freeze mode in which the camera image is displayed as a normal image (step S8). At this time, the frame buffer of the display image generator 14 holds the ultrasonic image generated last during the live mode, and the image output unit 15 displays a still image of the ultrasonic image.

If the still image saving operation is performed, the controller 18 outputs a saving instruction signal to the display image generator 14, and causes the display image generator 14 to generate an ultrasonic image for one frame as a target to be saved. By encoding, into JPEG format, image data of one frame when the still image saving operation is performed, for example, the display image generator 14 generates the still image data D1 of the target to be saved, and stores it in the storage 17. At this time, the display image generator 14 saves, in the storage 17 as the still image data D1, the display image in which the camera image is displayed as a normal image (step S9).

If the still image reproduction operation is performed, the controller 18 causes the transmitter/receiver 11 to stop the imaging operation by the ultrasonic probe 2. At this time, the controller 18 causes the display image generator 14 to read the still image data D1 selected by the user from the storage 17, and causes the image output unit 15 to display the display image stored as the still image data D1. Since the still image data D1 is stored as a display image in which the camera image is displayed as a normal image, in this still image reproduction mode, the display image that the display image generator 14 outputs to the image output unit 15 is also brought into a state where the camera image is displayed as a normal image (step S10).

If the moving image saving start operation is performed, the controller 18 causes the display image generator 14 to start generation of moving image data as a target to be saved. By encoding, into MPEG format, image data of a plurality of consecutive frames, for example, the display image generator 14 generates the moving image data D2 of the target to be saved, and stores it in the storage 17. At this time, the display image generator 14 saves, in the storage 17 as the moving image data D2, the display image in which the camera image is displayed as a mirror image (step S11).

If the moving image saving end operation is performed, the controller 18 causes the display image generator 14 to stop recording of the moving image data started by the moving image saving start operation (step S12).

If the moving image reproduction operation is performed, the controller 18 causes the transmitter/receiver 11 to stop the imaging operation by the ultrasonic probe 2. At this time, the controller 18 causes the display image generator 14 to read the moving image data D2 selected by the user from the storage 17, and causes the image output unit 15 to sequentially display the display images stored as the moving image data D2. Since the moving image data D2 is stored as a display image in which the camera image is displayed as a mirror image, in this moving image reproduction mode, the display image that the display image generator 14 outputs to the image output unit 15 is also brought into a state where the camera image is displayed as a mirror image (step S13).

If an input operation to the operation input unit 16 is performed (step S6: YES), the controller 18 executes the processing steps S7 to S13 corresponding to these input operations, and then returns to step S6 again to continue the same processing as described above.

[Effects]

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to the present embodiment, it is possible to output the image by switching the display style (e.g., normal image display or mirror image display) of the camera image to be arranged in the display image in accordance with the operation mode (e.g., live mode, freeze mode, moving image reproduction mode, or still image reproduction mode) of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A.

Thus, it is possible to provide image display with higher convenience for the user.

(Variation 1)

In the above embodiment, a mode in which the camera image arranged in the display image is always displayed as a mirror image in a case where the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the live mode has been presented. In this regard, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Variation 1 is different from that according to the above embodiment in that even if the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the live mode, the display image generator 14 switches the camera image from mirror image display to normal image display when the user performs an input operation of annotation or when the user performs an input operation for setting the probe mark.

FIG. 7 is a view explaining the probe mark setting function. FIG. 8 is a view explaining the annotation setting function.

The camera image arranged in the display image can function as a body mark indicating the examination target region. However, depending on the capturing position of the camera 3, the position of the ultrasonic probe 2 is sometimes difficult to visually recognize in the camera image. For example, in FIGS. 7 and 8, the distance between the camera 3 and the subject is long, and the position of the ultrasonic probe 2 in the camera image is difficult to visually recognize.

The display image generator 14 according to Variation 1 has a configuration in which a probe mark (see R2 a in FIG. 7) can be given to a desired position on the camera image of the display image by the user's input operation so that the position of the ultrasonic probe 2 in the camera image can be identified even in such a case. The display image generator 14 according to Variation 1 has a configuration in which text annotation (see R4 in FIG. 8) can be given in the display image by the user's input operation. The configuration is useful in particular when the display image is used as a record of an ultrasonic examination.

However, in a case where the user performs the input operation of annotation or in a case where the user performs the input operation for setting the body mark, the user is brought into a situation of gazing the display image displayed on the image output unit 15 rather than a situation of moving the ultrasonic probe 2 while visually recognizing the display image displayed on the image output unit 15. From this point of view, in such a case, the display image generator 14 according to Variation 1 switches the camera image from the mirror image display to the normal image display even if the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A is the live mode.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to Variation 1, since the display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image is controlled by referring to the input operation information of the user in addition to the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A, it is possible to generate a display image with higher convenience for the user.

(Variation 2)

FIG. 9 is a view showing the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to Variation 2.

In the above embodiment, the mode in which the display image generator 14 stores the still image data D1 (or moving image data D2) in the storage 17 as a display image of one picture including an ultrasonic image and a camera image has been presented. In this regard, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Variation 2 is different from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to the above embodiment in that when storing the still image data D1 in the storage 17, the display image generator 14 stores ultrasonic image data D1 a and camera image data D1 b separately, and when saving the moving image data D2 in the storage 17, the display image generator 14 stores ultrasonic image data D2 a and camera image data D2 b separately.

For example, when receiving a still image saving command or a moving image saving command from the user, the display image generator 14 according to Variation 2 does not store the display image itself but separately stores the ultrasonic image and the camera image constituting the display image. The ultrasonic image data D1 a and the camera image data D1 b and the ultrasonic image data D2 a and the camera image data D2 b are associated with each other by, for example, time information of a time stamp attached to each of them or other identification information.

However, in Variation 2, the camera image data D1 b and D2 b stored as the still image data D1 and the moving image data D2 are, for example, a camera image itself (i.e., camera image in a normal image display state) acquired by the camera image acquisitor 13. Therefore, the display image generator 14 according to Variation 2 reads the camera image from the camera image data D1 b and D2 b, and switches between normal image display and mirror image display when arranging the camera image to the image format data of the display image.

Specifically, when displaying a display image in the still image reproduction mode on the image output unit 15, the display image generator 14 according to Variation 2 acquires the ultrasonic image data D1 a and the camera image data D1 b from the storage 17 and, based on these, generates a display image in a state where the camera image is displayed as a normal image. Similarly, when displaying a display image in the moving image reproduction mode on the image output unit 15, the display image generator 14 according to Variation 2 acquires the ultrasonic image data D2 a and the camera image data D2 b from the storage 17 and, based on these, generates a display image in a state where the camera image is displayed as a mirror image.

As described above, also according to the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to Variation 2, similarly to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to the embodiment described above, it is possible to switch the display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image in accordance with the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A.

(Variation 3)

FIG. 10 is a view showing the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to the variation 3.

In the above embodiment, the mode in which the display image generator 14 stores the still image data D1 and the moving image data D2 separately in the storage 17 has been presented. In this regard, the display image generator 14 according to Variation 3 is different from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to the above embodiment in that the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A stores a still image and a moving image in the storage 17 as image data D3 related to a common display image without distinguishing between them.

The display image generator 14 according to Variation 3 stores, in the storage 17, the image data D3 related to a series of time-series display images, for example, from the start to end of an ultrasonic examination. Then, the display image generator 14 according to Variation 3 changes whether to read the image data D3 as a still image or a moving image when reading the image data D3 based on a command content from the user, for example.

However, in this case, when the image data D3 related to the display image is stored in the storage 17, the display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image is always the same (e.g., mirror image display). Therefore, when reading the image data D3 from the storage 17 as a still image (still image reproduction mode), the display image generator 14 according to Variation 3 cuts out the camera image arranged in the display image, changes it to the normal image display, and causes to the image output unit 15 to output the image. When reading the image data D3 from the storage 17 as a moving image (moving image reproduction mode), the display image generator 14 according to Variation 3 causes the image output unit 15 to output the image in a state of the display image s it is when stored in the storage 17.

As described above, also according to the configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to Variation 3, similarly to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A according to the embodiment described above, it is possible to switch the display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image in accordance with the operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus A.

Other Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various variation modes can be conceived.

For example, in the above embodiment, the display style related to normal image display and mirror image display is presented as an example of the display style of the camera image to be changed by the display image generator 14. However, the display style of the camera image to be changed by the display image generator 14 may be a display style related to black and white display and color display, or a display style related to large-screen display and reduced-screen display.

According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide image display with higher convenience for the user.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the disclosed embodiments are made for purposes of illustration and example only and not limitation. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted by terms of the appended claims. The techniques described in the claims include various variations and modifications of the embodiments illustrated above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe that transmits/receives ultrasonic waves; a camera that captures a subject; an ultrasonic image generator that generates an ultrasonic image of the subject based on a reception signal acquired from the ultrasonic probe; a first hardware processor that generates a display image including a camera image acquired from the camera and an ultrasonic image acquired from the ultrasonic image generator; and a second hardware processor that decides a display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image in accordance with an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in response to a command from the second hardware processor, the first hardware processor changes a display style related to normal image display or mirror image display of the camera image to be arranged in the display image.
 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a live mode, the first hardware processor displays the camera image as a mirror image.
 4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in a case where a user performs an input operation of annotation when an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a live mode, the first hardware processor switches the camera image from mirror image display to normal image display.
 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in a case where a user performs an input operation for setting a body mark when an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a live mode, the first hardware processor switches the camera image from mirror image display to normal image display.
 6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a freeze mode, the first hardware processor displays the camera image as a normal image.
 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a moving image reproduction mode, the first hardware processor displays the camera image as a mirror image.
 8. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a still image reproduction mode, the first hardware processor displays the camera image as a normal image.
 9. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display style of the camera image arranged in the display image can be set by a user in advance in association with an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
 10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first hardware processor adds, in the display image, an explanatory image showing a mode of the display style of the camera image arranged in the display image.
 11. A control method of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: generating an ultrasonic image of a subject based on a reception signal acquired from an ultrasonic probe that transmits/receives ultrasonic waves; generating a display image including a camera image acquired from a camera that captures a subject and the ultrasonic image; and deciding a display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image in accordance with an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
 12. A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable control program of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus causing a computer to execute processing of: generating an ultrasonic image of a subject based on a reception signal acquired from an ultrasonic probe that transmits/receives ultrasonic waves; generating a display image including a camera image acquired from a camera that captures a subject and the ultrasonic image; and deciding a display style of the camera image to be arranged in the display image in accordance with an operation mode of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. 